TRMM Satellite Algorithm Estimates to Represent the Spatial Distribution of Rainstorms

Abstract

Abstract. On-site measurements from rain gauge provide important information for the design, construction, and operation of water resources engineering projects, groundwater potentials, and the water supply and irrigation systems. A dense gauging network is needed to accurately characterize the variation of rainfall over a region, unfitting for conditions with limited networks, such as in Sarawak, Malaysia. Hence, satellite-based algorithm estimates are introduced as an innovative solution to these challenges. With accessibility to dataset retrievals from public domain websites, it has become a useful source to measure rainfall for a wider coverage area at finer temporal resolution. This paper aims to investigate the rainfall estimates prepared by Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) to explain whether it is suitable to represent the distribution of extreme rainfall in Sungai Sarawak Basin. Based on the findings, more uniform correlations for the investigated storms can be observed for low to medium altitude (>40 MASL). It is found for the investigated events of Jan [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] 2009: the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE = 36.7 %); and good correlation (CC = 0.9). These findings suggest that satellite algorithm estimations from TRMM are suitable to represent the spatial distribution of extreme rainfall.

Application of Satellite Rainfall Products for Flood Inundation Modelling in Kelantan River Basin, Malaysia

“…This crucial data plays a significant role in both hydrological modelling and flood inundation mapping. However, rain gauging stations in Malaysia are somewhat scarce, particularly in remote areas [4,5]. Remote sensing technology has advantages in producing spatially distributed rainfall estimation.…”